Governor Siminalayi Fubara has been charged by Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule of plotting to destroy the State Assembly buildings. The Speaker also issued a warning, emphasizing that the Governor has no authority over the legislature because the House of Assembly was established by the Constitution and that its members will not back down from their continued passage of bills promoting effective state government.Shortly after Governor Fubara visited the quarters with a retinue of aides and security officers before departing to supervise a road project nearby on Thursday, Amaewhule raised the alarm while speaking to reporters in Port Harcourt.
Amaewhule, however, attacked the governor for his conduct, claiming that he went into the premises without alerting the MPs.
“Today, Governor Fubara shocked the people of Rivers by entering the House of Assembly quarters and seemingly intending to destroy the building,” he said. “People in Nigeria and the Rivers state are seeing the governor, who is supposed to enforce the law and the Constitution, turn into the worst lawbreaker.”
Amaewhule emphasized that former Governor Nyesom Wike oversaw the construction of the House of Assembly quarters, which are regarded as some of the best in Nigeria. He underlined that Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time and President Bola Tinubu’s current chief of staff, had ordered the quarters in 2022.
Expressing disappointment, the Speaker condemned the Governor’s interference, asserting that the quarters were meant for Assembly members, not the Executive Arm. He criticized the Governor’s actions as unbecoming of a sitting Chief Executive responsible for upholding the law.
“We are ashamed to have a governor who disregards our Constitution, laws, and democracy. Our governor undermines our democracy,” Amaewhule remarked.
He accused the governor of sending thugs to his official residence last year and now invading the official residence of Assembly members, breaking through fences and gates.
Amaewhule further accused the governor of planning to demolish the Assembly’s property, built with taxpayers’ money, without consulting the members. He criticized the Governor for focusing on demolition rather than improving the welfare of the people, claiming that the Governor’s legacy consists of tearing down structures built by past governors instead of implementing positive changes.